Saboten

At Saboten, takoyaki isn’t limited to sauce: you can choose salt, soy sauce, ponzu or plum paste instead. Diners have described the dashi-rich batter as slightly firm on the outside and soft inside. Alongside the sauced version, some have enjoyed the lighter soy-sauce flavour. Try a classic first, then order another with plum or ponzu to compare.

For something different, the owner’s recommended variations are worth considering. Options range from spring onion with ponzu and yuzu pepper, and salt mayonnaise with wasabi, to garlic spring onion chilli oil, topped with crunchy garlic and mildly spicy chilli oil. One diner ordered an extra serving of the spring onion and ponzu variation, which comes generously topped with spring onions. It’s an easy way to add variety to a takoyaki order.

Hormone-yaki udon is another option if you’d like to make your meal more substantial. The menu lists it at ¥390 per serving; diners have mentioned the sweet-tasting offal coated in sauce and found it an affordable dish that takes the edge off hunger. For dining in, there’s also a senbero set with 4 takoyaki, 2 drink and a small daily side dish. Drinks include draft beer, highballs and chūhai in lemon, Calpis or tomato flavours, making the set a handy choice for a light drink alongside your takoyaki.